Character Development and Notes

Big Aunt Jennie was the one to tend to the children. Make sure they didn't hear too much so as bit to spook them in regard to the fate of two much loved youth. Just after the midday break, her solid squat frame tramped along the cotton field singing the same verses among the [workers].
'No suh, don't tell them children.
No suh, don't tell no lies.
We gon' keep these babies fo' Masuh die'.
Even in the intense of the early hours of afternoon, her song brought a smile to the face of a bondman confined to a life of misery.

'I'm gonna bake a cake come Saturday for 'em'. What you gonna do?' We can't have no queries 'bout this'.

'That's right, Mama', they would answer back. Every last one of them, even the light-skinned house servants, listened to Aunt Jennie. It had been more than a few times that she saved a slave's life. Yes, anybody with good sense listened to Big Aunt.

Master Sevinson collects

Master Sevinson believed himself an intelligent gentleman of affairs. He had cleverly taken out insurance policies on all of his male slaves who were confined to the more simple occupations that the insurance company condoned such as field laborers. He found no need to insure any female or house slaves, for they were generally well behaved and were always within view. A real shame to lose especially young stilt. He was a good worker and always of good humor. Remy was adequate at best, but he never complained n'ary a day long or short, he thought to himself.

No sooner than he lit his pipe, was a tap on the door.
"Master, Mr. Carolinas, the gentleman from the claim company here to see you, sir." Solomon the houseboy announces.
'Well, send him in. Come in much obliged. Come in, Carolinas, have a seat. You a Spaniard?
'Thank you, Mr. Sevinson, we received your request for payment. Shortly after... the incident'. He answers in a pecularly meek voice, ignoring Sevinson's inquiry about his nationality. Doubtless, the question would return in due time...

A word from the writer

Oh my goodness. What typos and grammar errors. Oh well, bear with me (though, feel free to send in corrections). The important mission is to get the story down on paper. I've been researching background information on this novel for years, and I've made some really interesting discoveries about slave scams and other deeds that I shan't reveal for fear of giving too much away.
Oh, I just realized that since I've revived my old Dell computer, many of my original notes from this story are to be found. Happiness, in the day of technology! More on the way.

Take care,
mb

The Plantation Murders - Unedited Draft Chapter One

Copyright © 2004
Marcia Bell
All rights reserved
It had not been two whole weeks before they, or what was left of them, were discovered in a pasture just past the property line of the Townshead Plantation. At first, Master had thought that Remy and Stilt, two young field workers had escaped and run off to find their mammy, long sold off and far away. The discovery was made by Perkins, the overseer. So gruesome it was that he stayed gone from his watch disciplinary duties over the field slaves for a good week's time. Once back, he did not hesitate to threaten the bondsmen of a similar fate lest they work well past sun down. However, after a day's work and once on his way, he always made two young bucks walk him into town.

Writer's discovery scene notes ( as told in a news journal account...
... On the second of June, 1838, the remains of two negro bucks were found near the western path of Lake Chester Mountain. Of the first victim, the only remnant identifiable was the torso, missing all extremities. Of the second a single leg and arm, both of the right side of the body. At first, it appeared that the two unfortunate bucks had been attacked by a bear. However, two neatly folded piles of ragged clothing was found not far from the discovery at hand...